Contractors demand pay from FERMA, praise FCT minister

The contractors who came together under the Association of Indigenous Contractors of Federal Capital Territory commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed for regular payment of their certified bills but frowned at irregular payment by FERMA.Chairman of the association Chief Emma Ehikwe said FERMA owes them N4 billion to N5 billion […]

The contractors who came together under the Association of Indigenous Contractors of Federal Capital Territory commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed for regular payment of their certified bills but frowned at irregular payment by FERMA.
Chairman of the association Chief Emma Ehikwe said FERMA owes them N4 billion to N5 billion for jobs executed since 2012.
“Our members are involved in road rehabilitation by FERMA. Indigenous contractors have done well. Even where there’s insurgency, our members are there,” he stated.
“This association has been in dialogue with FERMA for this period. Some want to go to court or to the street to protest but we restrained.
“We employ labour from the outermost parts of the FCT and as you pay the contractors, the local labour force also benefits from this which goes a long way in empowering them towards having sustainable means of livelihood,” the contractors’ chairman expressed regret that contractors borrow money to do jobs so delaying their pay is tantamount to putting them out of business.
They commended the FCT administration for treating both indigenous and multi-national contractors fairly stressing that their satisfactory performance has shown that if given the opportunity, Nigerian companies can compete effectively with their foreign counterparts.
About 200 indigenous contractors attended the meeting.